James C. VanderKam is the John A. O'Brien Professor of Hebrew Scriptures Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame. Among his many other books are The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible, The Dead Sea Scrolls Today, and the two-volume commentary on the book of Jubilees in the Hermeneia series. He also served as an editor for thirteen volumes in the Discoveries in the Judaean Desert series and was editor of the Journal of Biblical Literature from 2006 to 2012.
William Adler
-- North Carolina State University
"Written by one o the world's foremost authorities on Second Temple
Judaism, The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible represents the
culmination of a lifetime of devoted study of one of the most
important archaeological and documentary finds of the modern age.
In this single volume VanderKam explains the contribution of the
Scrolls to critical issues in the study of Jewish and Christian
scriptures: the authority of biblical and para-biblical books,
scriptural interpretation and commentary, messianic hopes, and
group controversies during the time of Jesus. Lucid and lively
writing, careful textual analysis, and original insights combine to
make this book a real pleasure to read." James H. Charlesworth
-- Princeton Theological Seminary
"With typical succinctness and insight, Jim VanderKam presents a
reliable introduction to the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for
a better understanding of the Bible." John J. Collins
-- Yale University
"VanderKam surveys not only the evidence of the Scrolls for the
text and canon of the Hebrew Bible but also their relevance for
understanding the New Testament. As usual, he is clear, thorough,
and reliable. This will be a standard reference work for all
students of the Bible." Matthias Henze
-- Rice University
"With characteristic ease, erudition, and authority, James
VanderKam expertly guides readers through the diffcult terrain of
textual criticism and Scrolls controversies. In the end, the reader
emerges with a clear and unbiased understanding of the true
significance of the Scrolls for the field of biblical studies."
Restoration Quarterly
"It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of the Dead
Sea Scrolls for understanding the origins, early interpretation and
reception, and textual shape of the Bible. . . . James VanderKam's
brief volume provides an authoritative guide to this material. As a
leading scholar of Second Temple Judaism, he combines careful
attention to detail with a judicious eye for the overall picture. .
. . A learned and readable tour de force. The work is careful but
not pedantic, detailed but not fussy, wide-ranging but
penetrating." Journal of Ancient Judaism
"The importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for the study of the Bible
is undisputed. VanderKam provides a highly informative textbook,
which not only introduces this field of study from the perspectives
of the textual, interpretive, and canonical histories of the Hebrew
Bible, but also presents the Dead Sea Scrolls as an important
theological context for the New Testament." Review of Biblical
Literature
"This is a splendid contribution to the study of the Dead Sea
Scrolls, lucidly written and generally accessible to readers of all
sorts." Journal of Theological Studies
"A valuable introduction for all novices in the field of the Dead
Sea Scrolls." Journal for the Study of the New Testament
"This volume will be extremely valuable for those seeking an
introduction to this subject. It is written in a very clear style,
whilst drawing on VanderKam's deep knowledge of the field of Qumran
research." Congregational Libraries Today
"These essays provide a substantial overview. They are accessible
and will enhance the reader's understanding of the many ways in
which these scrolls open windows on the world of the ancient Jewish
community." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
"Gives authoritative and up-to-date information on the Dead Sea
Scrolls and the Bible. . . . It would make an excellent text for
various courses on biblical backgrounds or on the Dead Sea Scrolls.
. . . VanderKam is to be commended for making this significant
information readily available to students of the Bible." Reviews in
Religion & Theology
"Short but very interesting book. . . . This is a worthy read into
which VanderKam crams some of the most important contributions the
scrolls have made to critical analysis. I would thoroughly
recommend this book to all students interested in biblical
interpretation."
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